Seton Hall’s Daisha Simmons won fight against Alabama

Seton Hall guard Daisha Simmons drives between DePaul’s Mart’e Grays (35) and Chanise Jenkins during the Big East tournament title game on March 10 in Rosemont, Ill.

Seton Hall guard Daisha Simmons drives between DePaul’s Mart’e Grays (35) and Chanise Jenkins during the Big East tournament title game on March 10 in Rosemont, Ill.

Photo: Charles Rex Arbogast — The Associated Press

Photo: Charles Rex Arbogast — The Associated Press

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Seton Hall guard Daisha Simmons drives between DePaul’s Mart’e Grays (35) and Chanise Jenkins during the Big East tournament title game on March 10 in Rosemont, Ill.

Seton Hall guard Daisha Simmons drives between DePaul’s Mart’e Grays (35) and Chanise Jenkins during the Big East tournament title game on March 10 in Rosemont, Ill.

Photo: Charles Rex Arbogast — The Associated Press

Seton Hall’s Daisha Simmons won fight against Alabama

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STORRS >> It was never Daisha Simmons’ intention to be a polarizing figure that resulted in some of the heavy hitters in the world of college basketball coming to her defense.

With her family seemingly dealing with more adversity with each passing day, Simmons was eager to put her God-given basketball talents to use for the person who had the most to do with her becoming a Division I star. All that remained was for the paperwork to be finalized so Simmons, a recent University of Alabama graduate, could play immediately at Seton Hall for her final season of eligibility. Since she transferred from Rutgers to Alabama following her freshman season, she would need Alabama to grant her a graduate transfer waiver.

Simmons, a rather unassuming individual off the court, is not one to pick a fight — but she’s not one to back away either. Her family retained an attorney and the battle was on.

Alabama, taking the public stance that Simmons’ decision to leave happened so late in the process that it prevented them from preparing to replace her on the court, stood firm on the decision not to grant the waiver.

Simmons, who took the court with Seton Hall in Saturday’s NCAA tournament first-round game against Rutgers, did not come off as a gleeful victor against the system.

“I was surprised that they dragged it out for as long as they did,” Simmons quietly said in the locker room before Friday’s practice. “They have some great people there, but for the situation to get that far, it was crazy and I was surprised. Everything happens for a reason, so I definitely learned from that experience. Hopefully the NCAA doesn’t let this just pass over and move on. Hopefully something will change. There are still some young kids coming up who have to deal with this.”

Simmons, who was averaging 16.9 points per game heading into the NCAA tournament, wasted little time meshing with her new teammates and coaches.

“Daisha taught everyone a great lesson; fight for what you believe in and don’t give up,” Seton Hall coach Tony Bozzella said. “Ultimately it turned out great, but even if it didn’t, still fight for what you believe in. Daisha taught everybody that and she never gave up. It’s hard at the end, when that (Alabama) president came out and said we are not going to release her. I thought it might be over. I’ll never forget the lawyer (Donald Jackson) called me and said no, it’s not over. We will take care of it. Three days later it was over. I couldn’t believe it.”

Simmons has refused to let the circumstances surrounding her struggle to move from Alabama to Seton Hall define her.

“Towards the end I finally saw the light and finally got the word that I can play,” Simmons said. “I think my mom was more excited than me. ... I wanted to focus on the season and not focus on the (publicity).”